= Installation & Updates =
Brainstorm is available under two distinct forms:

 1. a stand-alone executable application (Matlab not required)
 1. an open-source Matlab application (Matlab required).

The stand-alone application is a Java executable that is expected to run on most operating systems. Please let us know through the [[http://neuroimage.usc.edu/brainstorm|forum]] if you are running into compatibility issues.

== Requirements ==
 * Operating system: Any platform for which Matlab is available
 * Matlab version: '''R2006a '''(7.2)
 * Matlab '''Signal Processing Toolbox''' is optional, but strongly recommended.

== Installation ==
 1. Visit the [[http://neuroimage.usc.edu/brainstorm3_register/download.php|Download]] section, create an account, and follow the indications.
 1. Download the latest brainstorm_....zip archive
 1. Unzip it somewhere you usually put your program files. For example:<<BR>>

  * __Windows__: Program Files\brainstorm3
  * __Linux__: /usr/local/brainstorm3 (or $HOME/brainstorm3 if you are not admin)
  * __MacOS__: Applications/brainstorm3

 1. Create an empty folder "'''brainstorm_db'''" to store your Brainstorm database. For example:

  * __Windows__: My documents\brainstorm_db
  * __Linux__: /home/username/brainstorm_db
  * __MacOS__: Documents/brainstorm_db

== Start the application ==
==== With Matlab ====
 1. Start Matlab
 1. Do '''NOT '''add brainstorm3 folder to your path
 1. Go to the brainstorm3 folder
 1. Type "brainstorm" in the command window
 1. Visit the [[Tutorials]] section to learn what to do next.

==== Without Matlab ====
 1. Go to the [[http://neuroimage.usc.edu/brainstorm3_register/download.php|Download]] section again
 1. Download the '''Matlab Compiler Runtime (MCR)''' for your operating system.
 1. Install it:
  * __Windows__: Double-click on the .exe and follow the instructions
  * __Linux__: From a terminal, unzip .zip, then run ./install
  * __MacOS__: Unzip, install
 1. Run the program in brainstorm3/bin/R2011b/
  * __Windows__: Double-click on brainstorm3.jar (no console) or brainstorm3.bat (console)
  * __Linux__: From a terminal, run ./brainstorm.command
  * __MacOS__: Double-click on brainstorm.command
 1. Select the folder in which you installed the MCR library (Linux and MacOS only)
 1. Visit the [[Tutorials]] section to learn what to do next.

== Updates ==
Brainstorm is improving every day. It is recommended that you update the software regularly.

 * Automatic updates (Matlab only):
  * When you start Brainstorm, it checks online if your version is older than a month.
  * To enable / disable those automatic updates, edit the software preferences (File > Set preferences...)
 * Manual updates (Matlab only):
  * Menu '''Help ''''''> Update Brainstorm''', in the main application window.
  * If it doesn't work: check that you have the rights to write in the brainstorm3 folder.
 * Stand-alone version (or in case those simple methods do not work)
  * Delete the old brainstorm3 folder (don't worry, it's not going to remove your database)
  * Follow the installation instructions again (previous section)